Belting.



J. H. SCHULTE.

BELTING.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3. I913.

Patented May16, 1916.

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J. H. SCHULTE.

BELTING.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 3. 1913.

Patented May16, 1916.

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WMMQQMQ MTM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH H. SCHULTE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR. TO DETROIT LEATHER WORKS, A PARTNERSHIP COMPOSED OF JOSEPH H. SCHULTE AND HENRY KAISER, 013

DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

IBELTING.

Patented May 16, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Josnrrr H. Sorrmxrn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Belting, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

In the operation of short endless belts such as are employed on automobiles, motorcycles and the like for driving comparatively small pulleys at a high rate of speed, it is advantageous that the belt be so disposed as not to stretch perceptibly when passing around small wheels.

This invention relates to a belt that is adapted to run at high speed over small pulleys and that presents great flexibility and tractive surface while at the same time it does not stretch appreciably when flexed.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred form of belt that embodies features of the invention; Fig. 2 is a view in cross section therethrough, taken on or about line IIII of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal section of the belt showing the position assumed when the belt is sharply flexed; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are views in detail of a modification of the belt; Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are views of another modification showing a different arrangement of link members; and Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are views in detail showing a still further modification of the articulated members.

As herein shown in the preferred form, a series of strips 1 of leather or like suitable material have wide outer end portions 2 that are preferably rounded from which they are uniformly tapered to narrow end portions 3. These strips are secured in overlapping relation with their wider ends forming the outer face of the belt and their narrow inner ends forming the inner face. Preferably the narrow inner ends are slightly thinned or wedge-shaped so as to present a substantially continuous inner surface even when the belt is sharply bent. Rivets 4, bolts or like means hold them in operative relation. To insure greater flexibility, the rivets may pass through the wide outer end of each link and the superposed bodies of the two adjacent links'only so that the tapered or thinned inner end portions overlie the rivet head and are free to move thereover as the outer portions of the belt is extended in passing around a pulley. Obviously the inner ends do not need to cover the rivets as the driving surface of the belt consists of the opposite lateral faces 5 which are dressed to engage the grooved or flanged faces of the pulley for which the belt is fashioned.

A series of metal members connect the rivets loosely in such manner as to limit any tendency of the latter to move apart when the belt is passing around a pulley. In the preferred form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a link 6 is formed of a strip folded on itself and slightly separated at the bend to make a closed eyelet 7 The contiguous portions of the strip are apertured to receive the body of a rivet. A single plate 8 that is apertured at one end to receive a companion rivet has a longitudinal slot 9 at the other end that is engaged by the loop portion 7 of the folded strip. Preferably the single strip 8 forms a washer for the head of the rivet while the folded strip 6 lies between adjacent parts of the belt proper, the loop portion 7 only being exposed. The loop 7 and slot 9 are so proportioned as to permit relative longitudinal movement between the parts and are furthermore so arranged as to form a rigid, substantially inextensible connection between the rivets at the moment of the greatest flexure for which the belt is intended. WVhen the belt is extended or straight, the links do not necessarily act as strain transmitting members.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6 a modification is shown wherein strips 10 with longitudinally slotted end portions 11 engage the projecting heads of the rivets, washers 12 being used to retain the parts. The longitudinal slots permit movement of the rivets and the links on each other.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9, a folded link 13 is shown similar to the part 6 of the preferred construction, a series of such links being provided in alternation with single links 14, the whole being placed on the outer faces or broader end portions of the belt strips and acting as washers over which the rivets are headed down. Or the parts shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and 7, 8 and 9 may be arranged as indicated in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 with the links disposed in pairs, each consisting of a single plate 15 lying between the belt strips and a closed loop plate 16 connected thereto to rest on the broader end of each strip and to engage the adjacent rivet, each pair of plates coupling a pair of rivets. Other forms of link may be employed so long as they proride for longitudinal play between the parts and for transmitting the strain when the belt is sharply flexed. Or the links may be disposed to transmit the strain at all times while the body strips provide the traction faces for contact with the pulling faces. Because of this disposition of parts a belt is obtained that may be constructed at very low cost, that presents all the flexibility and driving powerof a link belt and has the added feature of large tractive area, the belt being especially adapted for use on small grooved pulleys or the like and for high speed purposes.

Obviously, changes in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and I do not care to limit myself to any particular form or arrangement of parts.

lVhat I claim is 1. Belting comprising a series of overlap ping flexible strips, longitudinally tapered and shaped to give a substantially V-shaped section to the belt, a rivet securing the Wider end portion of each strip to the bodies of a pair of adjacent strips and inflexible metallic members each secured to a rivet and connected together loosely in pairs, the connection affording longitudinal movement between each pair of members.

2. Belting comprising a series of overlapping flexible strips, longitudinally tapered and disposed to give a substantially V- shaped cross section to the belting, rivets each connecting the wider end portion of a flexible strip to the bodies or a pair of adjacent strips, a metal link folded on itself with the superposed end portions thereof secured to a rivet, the folded portions of the metal link being enlarged to form a closed eyelet and longitudinally slotted links each engaged by the eyelets of a companion folded link that is inserted therethrough and each secured to an adjacent rivet whereby the flexibility of the overlapping strips is unimpaired.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH H. SCHULTE.

lVitnesses ANNA M. Donn, C. R. STIGKNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained 101' five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

